Reviewed by Emma Crowley
When an impossibly shy young woman named Judy Morgan finishes her studies in Physics at Cambridge University, it is with dreams of changing the world for the better.
Meanwhile, a beautiful, young Jewish woman decides to flee her beloved Austria, changing her name to Hedy Lamarr, and risking everything to get to America, as far away from the Nazi threat as possible.
A powerful friendship is formed when the two women meet in pre-war London—with Judy’s passion for science a perfect match for Hedy’s brilliant talent for invention. So when the world is gripped by a war that nobody could have imagined in their worst nightmares, both Hedy and Judy know they must act now.
As their lives repeatedly collide, in Cambridge, California, Pearl Harbor and beyond—throwing both their lives into danger and tragedy—Judy and Hedy both find themselves seeking ways to end the war.
But neither of them will know that one of them is on a path of tragedy. A path that could change the outcome of the war, but also threaten their friendship forever…
When the Nightingale Sings by Suzanne Kelman begins in 1998 in Cambridge, 85 year old Judy knows the time she has left is short and the friendship long ago forged during the turbulent times of World War Two is one she would like to find closure and acceptance with. But there have been many, many years of silence between herself and Hedy and instantly the readers interest is piqued. You want to know what caused this rift from what seems to be a friendship that existed through the worst of times but yet was unable to come out stronger on the other side? As Judy takes to the stage to receive an honoury degree she clings to one last facet of hope that Hedy has come to this special event and that they can make amends. But to discover how this point has been reached the author takes us back in time to the late 1930’s and through the war years as we see an incredible friendship build up but one in which loyalties were severely tested which ultimately led to the deep separation that Judy now in the present wishes nothing more than to put right.
The story had a great flow to it and I loved how the chapters moved between the two main protagonists Judy and Hedy. They never actually physically met many times, yet the bond they shared appeared to be unbreakable as their love of science bound them together. The end notes were interesting as it gave more of a background to the two women and how the author changed some things around to suit her telling of the story rather than have everything based on fact. Even though the author did say there is no evidence that the two women met I’d like to think they did as I found this story fascinating as it provided the reader with a totally different aspect to the war that you would never think about and which was almost always dominated by men.
Admittedly for a portion of the book I was looking for a bit more war action so to speak, and to really see how things were going on the ground, but then I realised this was not that sort of historical fiction book. Rather it is more character driven and focuses on these two women who are trying to do their best in their respective fields but at the same time trying to escape the moulds that had been created for women at the time. They were both creative and innovative thinkers but a male dominated society continued to conspire against them and I felt this was really highlighted in Judy’s situation.
Out of the two it was Judy that I was really drawn to, I wanted to read lots more chapters from her viewpoint as I found her to be a women ahead of her time more so than Hedy. I found Hedy to be frustrating and although she too wanted to help in the war effort I just felt she didn’t always have the same drive that Judy had. Judy graduates from college in Cambridge in the summer of 1937 her specialty being physiscs. I couldn’t quite comprehend that she didn’t receive a proper degree even though she had done the same work as her fellow male classmates. It was clear that society viewed women as only being fit for working in the home but here was a character who was so much more than that.
Judy was lonely at college and resented by fellow classmates for being on a scholarship but I loved how she pushed against every injustice that came blocking her path. She had such a passion for science and she knew she was in the right place and that with time and hard work she could prove that to all around her. A chance but brief meeting with Hedy at a science museum in London sees the friendship cemented. Hedy is in transit from Austria to America escaping her husband in the hopes of pursuing a film career. It could have seemed very far fetched that a friendship could develop after such a brief meeting but the author really made it work over the course of the unfolding plot.
Time and time again Judy goes against the grain of what society expects a woman can do and she earned nothing but respect and admiration in my eyes. She gets work in a lab and meets Thomas Jenkins and they work alongside each other and later go on to marry. When war is declared, the work they both do intensifies and Judy shows off her very clever mind and her forward thinking yet never gains any respect and appreciation for all that she does from the main men at the lab. I don’t know how she put up with so many put downs and the lack of acknowledgement for her work but it showed her true grit, determination and strong character that she wanted to help in any way she could in order to see the Germans defeated. At times the technical work herself and Thomas were involved in became a bit too much for me. I understand detail was needed in order to enhance the overall picture of what they were doing but I became a bit confused and glossed over these parts but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
I thought the letters that flew back and forth over the Atlantic between Hedy and Judy were a brilliant addition to the book. It helped join the two women’s lives together and gave a deep insight into their friendship. Judy’s life takes her on a dark path emotionally and mentally and a new drive appears deep within her. A thirst for revenge in a way although revenge seems too strong a word. I sensed in the later quarter that the reason for the present day rift between herself and Hedy would be revealed. As we edged ever closer to this point something became clear to me and I could tell one aspect of what was forthcoming and I almost didn’t want to read it in fear of the emotions it would stir in me. But of course I persisted and I thought the way the author brought the strands of the story together and exposed the reasons was very well done. What could have been a let down, wasn’t at all and it all made perfect sense and gives the reader much food for thought regarding both women and their actions, viewpoints and feelings.
I haven’t said much about Hedy and maybe that’s because I didn’t warm to her as much. Reaching America and becoming a Hollywood starlet was she just that little bit out of reach and harder to connect with than Judy who was more down to earth and relatable? There was lots of detail of her time spent on film sets and loads of name dropping of famous Hollywood stars she encountered and worked with. The inclusion of businessman Howard Hughes provides an important link to a pivotal aspect of the overall storyline. But two things that struck me was how did films continue to be made during the war and how could normal people sail across the Atlantic during the war years? I would have thought it was incredibly dangerous to brave the Atlantic and as for the films well I suppose they provided a distraction for people when they needed it most but at times it just seemed unnecessary and superficial.
Hedy’s life took on a typical actress path but I loved when she became involved in wanting to do her bit for the war and showed off her science brain that was quite clearly under utilised and just bursting to come forth with all that she wanted to see the light in order to help the war effort. The connection between Hedy and Judy was wonderfully written throughout and showcased what an uphill battle they faced every day to be taken seriously as women with brilliant ideas and initiatives. Throughout you are hoping that as we revert back to the event at the beginning that things will work out for them both if at all possible.
When the Nightingale Sings is a good historical fiction read, different from those out there in the genre at the moment. It’s not my favourite by Suzanne Kelman but it’s still very much worthy of a read.
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